Careers

Careers education is introduced in the Prep School and taught from Year 7 in Senior School. We deliver the Government endorsed Gatsby Foundation Benchmarks to the greater benefit of our pupils and at is core is a multiplicity of employer encounters.

Careers Programme

Our Careers programme is progressive and cumulative. It takes pupils from understanding the importance of learning and developing soft skills in Year 7, through making good academic study choices at Years 9, 11, 12 & 13, to knowing they have the skills and confidence to network and follow a rewarding career path after Forest.

The programme is updated annually and circulated to Senior School parents and pupils. The Careers Newsletter informs parents and the Careers Bulletin shares career information and opportunities with pupils.

Community and External Support

Pupils meet with employers through talks, workshops, interview practice, work experience, work shadowing and meeting exhibitors at the HE & Careers Fair. In National Careers Week all Senior School pupils are encouraged to attend talks from parents and alumni on a wide range of career fields.

External provider workshops help pupils to learn and practice job application and interview skills. Year 10 pupils will complete the Morrisby online profiling exercise which will inform their discussions in Year 11 when they have a careers interview with an independent adviser.

Pupils

Pupils can use the regular lunchtime Careers Drop-in Sessions to seek advice.

Dedicated parent/pupil sessions offer age appropriate support on subject choices.

Forest Futures Workshops give in depth insights to leading career fields including Medicine, Law, STEM industries, and Finance for Year 10-13 pupils. All Year 12 pupils attend the Forest Futures – Apprenticeships workshop. Places are available to pupils from surrounding schools.

Year 10-13 pupils visit the Forest School Higher Education and Careers Fair to meet nearly 100 exhibitors from universities, gap year providers and employers. Pupils from surrounding Schools also attend.

Year 12 pupils are enrolled on the ‘Next Steps’ Programme. At the ‘Exploring Options Evening’ in-school experts encourage pupils to explore a wide range of options including special sessions on Oxbridge, medicine, applications to overseas universities and apprenticeships. The Trinity Term, ‘Apply Evening’, explores the process involved in applying to a university or for employment with input from a visiting expert. Pupils are then invited to a series of events organised by the School on UCAS applications, personal statement writing, and informed decision-making. Advice is also offered on gap year plans.

Interview practice for Years 12 and 13 is provided by a team of in-school and external business experts, with opportunities for outside interview practice from partner schools. Every Sixth Form pupil has two ‘Viva’ interviews as part of their Forest Diploma Course.